So, if I was a lower income buyer, what kind of dollars would I have to spend to be able to use this vehicle as a daily driver for let's say 200 miles per day? This would include having a charging system installed at my home plus daily charging. What about repairs? What is the cost compared to a ICE vehicle?
Overall are they a true value? Completely setting the green thing aside. Would I profit from purchasing one?
I like the sound of that Volt that Jackie has.
You can currently find new and used electric vehicles for prices comparable to those of ice vehicles, especially if you take into account $7500 off the top for a qualifying vehicle. I don’t think you necessarily have to pay $20,000 more to get an equivalent EV. I would recommend you look at the 2024 VW FWD iD4 as a mid price point. If you shop around, and find an overstocked dealer, you should be able to buy one for about $30,000 after discounts and incentives. A local dealer has some 2023 models for discount. But price and demand vary by model, dealer and region.
Second, charging at home is essential for an EV, for both convenience and cost savings, in my opinion. Most vehicles will give you more than 200 miles round trip on a full charge. But savings depends on the cost of electricity vs the cost of gasoline. This varies a lot by region. But in any event, charging at home on 240V is a very nice convenience, as well as cheaper in my case.
These two articles are pretty good, summarizing the cost factors over the life of the vehicle.
Joule article
Edmunds article
I believe I paid roughly $43K before tax and license, etc., for the Toyota EV. I think it will be a good long term vehicle in my retirement. I think Toyotas are reliable, and they have been building the Prius for a long time so they know something. But if I were commuting 200 miles RT for work each day I would recommend a different vehicle - the VW iD4 FWD, which has faster charging times and a bit more battery capacity. I needed AWD; you may not. I can take my time charging - you maybe not. Every make/model has strengths and weaknesses.
I am tired of getting into arguments about electric cars so I don’t want to make this an advocacy post. I thought these articles were good, and they kind of address your questions - one in more detail. But seriously, cars are sort of personal. Drive several EVs, and decide if they are right for you. And if so, look for deals. EV demand, inventory, and prices will probably go in cycles. If there are several on the lot, make an offer.
About the subsidy - if the vehicle qualifies for the 2024 $7,500 tax credit, take it off the
top of the price. The dealer will send in the paperwork and get a check. Don’t claim in on your taxes.
Leases - some vehicles qualify for a tax credit to the manufacturer but not to the consumer, if they are leased. The Toyota which I purchased did. The dealer is not obligated to pass the subsidy to the lessee, but Toyota did in my case. So I paid off the lease and purchased the vehicle 30 days after leasing it, and effectively received the subsidy. If might be worth looking into, as a workaround if the vehicle does not qualify for the credit/subsidy to a purchaser.
In short, EVs are cheaper in the long run if compared to similar ICE vehicles, though it depends on make, model, availability of the subsidy, location and cost of charging. The real question is whether you personally like the car and the price, and whether you can accept the trade-off of not having a charging station every 5 miles like gas stations, but being able to charge at home on most days.
jd
bringatrailer.com
